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Agenda and minutes

Contact: Zoey Foakes 

Note: This has been moved from 13th September 2017 to 24th October 2017. 

Items
No. Item

151.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Cllr Mrs Middlehurst and Cllr Mrs Murphy substituted. 

152.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 104 KB

Minutes:

The minutes from the Environment and Enforcement Committee held on 28 June 2017 were approved as a true record. 

153.

Performance Presentations

Minutes:

Mr Carter and Mr Dun presented to committee members on fly-tipping figures. 

 

The presentation showed that there had been 43 cases from June to September 2017.  

 

In 2017/18, £8,900 had been received in prosecution and Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs).  This was over 130% more than the last 4 years combined. 

 

The most common fly-tip size in 2017/18 was from small van and transit van loads; and the most common type of waste had been construction and commercial waste.  The majority of fly-tips had been on the Highway. 

 

Cllr Fulcher requested that a report be brought to the Environment and Enforcement Committee on Air Pollution including the measurements and any comparable figures year on year.  

154.

Participation Survey pdf icon PDF 95 KB

Minutes:

The Technical Officer for education and recycling, monitored a minimum of 1,100 households, in order to assess the uptake for the Council’s waste and recycling kerbside services.

 

The survey took place in April, May and June of 2017.  The monitoring covered a period of eight weeks, ensuring the capture of as much data as possible.

 

The participation rate results indicated that despite the reduction in the tonnage of recyclables collected, the participation rate had increased for recyclables when compared with the results of a survey taken in 2014; with the exception of food waste. 

 

Cllr Parker informed Members that there would be a change from orange sacks to clear sacks.

 

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Cloke and SECONDED by Cllr Barrell to approve the recommendation in the report.

 

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOULSY that:

 

1.    The Committee note the results of the Participation Survey to enable further debate on the appropriate actions to be taken with the issues concerning the reduction in recyclables collected and the increase in residual waste collected.     

 

Reasons for recommendation

Members were required to be fully informed on the status of the Council’s waste and recycling services; with particular reference to data captured such as the results of the participation survey and statistics on weights collected.

 

Members would be able to contribute to the ongoing process of helping to evolve the strategy for engagement with householders. 

155.

CrimeNotToCare Campaign Update and Christmas Recycling Road Shows pdf icon PDF 102 KB

Minutes:

The report was to notify Members of the forthcoming Recycling events planned for the December period.  Officers would raise awareness of recycling by answering questions, provide advice and handing out rolls of recycling sacks and food waste bags to residents.  

 

The report would update members on the Love Essex 2017 #CrimeNotToCare campaign which was launched on Monday 4th September and ran for six weeks.  Brentwood Borough Council held one of the Essex two launch events on Friday 8th September 2017, where Street Scene Operatives built a large fly tip using a third of the items that they had collected that week from the Borough as a visual example of the scale of fly tips.  Staff from Street Scene and Environmental Health were joined by Keep Britain Tidy representatives and Councillors to talk to the public about fly tipping.  The waste on display was a third of what had been collected from fly tips in the Borough that week and it was certainly a talking point with many passers-by stopping to take pictures and ask questions about it.  The Leader of the Council did an interview with BBC Look East at the scene which was aired that evening.  The press coverage for the launch week had been comprehensive so hopefully got the message out to residents throughout Essex. 

 

Environmental Health Officers undertook a Stop and Search activity with the Police within the campaign period in an operation to prevent fly tipping.  Stops were made on vehicles that were or could be carrying waste and drivers were checked to make sure they had waste transfer information and a license to transport and dispose of commercial waste they carry.  Two vehicles were found to be suspicious and would be followed up to ensure they were disposing of commercial waste correctly.  Fixed penalty notices of up to £600 could be issued for contraventions of carrying or disposing of waste without a license or waste transfer notice.  The officers would be out again on a regular basis doing the same operation.  The Environmental Health Officers had also shown the police officers what to look for when stopping those who may be illegally transporting commercial waste.  This would include waste generated from a business or from a business activity such as debris that might have been handled by a builder or the garden waste that a gardener may have moved.  Officers were also in regular communication with the local police regarding looking out for vehicles of interest and fly tipping information sharing.       

 

Cllr Kendall requested year on year figures for fly tipping incidents in Essex based on what was recorded in point 3.2 of the report.  

 

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Cloke and SECONDED by Cllr Mrs Slade to approve the recommendations in the report. 

 

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that: 

 

1.    Members note and support the arrangements for the forthcoming Christmas Recycling Road Show events to be held during December 2017.

 

2.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 155.

156.

Corporate Enforcement Team pdf icon PDF 82 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

At the meeting of the Environment and Enforcement Committee on 28 June 2017, the establishment of a Corporate Enforcement Team was approved, together with the appointment of a General Manager. 

 

The Committee also approved a recommendation to bring back a workplan for Enforcement Activity to the next Committee meeting. 

 

Ms Lilley explained to the committee members about the “Enforcement Team” and also the draft workplan (appendix A of the report).  Providing incidents were recorded through the systems the Council have set up, reports could be produced to show what enforcement issues had occurred and what was being done. 

 

Cllr Kendall suggested that the Plan needed more work and Cllr Parker emphasised that this was a “Draft” plan at this stage.  

 

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Mrs Murphy and SECONDED by Cllr Barrell to approve the recommendations in the report. 

 

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that:

 

1.    Members note the appointment of the General and Deputy Managers for Corporate Enforcement. 

 

2.    Members approve the draft Corporate Enforcement Strategy subject to consultation with senior managers. 

 

Reason for recommendations

To provide a measurable work plan for Corporate Enforcement to report on outcomes and achievements. 

157.

Open Space Protection Measures pdf icon PDF 122 KB

Minutes:

A following motion was submitted to Ordinary Council on 18 October 2017:

 

This Council recognises the sharp drop in illegal incursions on Brentwood Council owned land over the last 12 months and acknowledges the success of the land protection measures, which include bollards and height restrictors, that have been installed by the Council. 

 

This Council further notes and welcomes the strong working relationship with Essex Police, Essex County Council and the Traveller Unit and pledges to continue to operate closely with these partner organisations. 

 

A report will be brought to the Environment and Enforcement Committee to review the need for any further protection and security improvement works on publicly owned open spaces, that would benefit the Borough of Brentwood.  Resulting recommendations will be included as part of the budget setting process for 2018/19.

 

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Parker and SECONDED by Cllr Bridge to approve the recommendations in the report.

 

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that:

 

1.    Members note the progress on works to protect Council land against unauthorised entry and outcomes of actions taken. 

 

2.    Members authorise officers to identify possible areas where additional or improvements in security would be appropriate and to provide estimated costs. 

 

Reason for recommendations

To continue to effectively reduce the likelihood of unauthorised incursions onto Council and Parish Council land in the Borough and to reduce the impact of additional expenditure, particularly on site clearance.  

 

158.

Urgent Business

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business to discuss and the meeting concluded at 20:55.